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Requested that she meet him there. He had already ordered the outfit, complete with cosmetics, and they should be en route to her place by now. He would have preferred it at his loft but had not wanted to push it.
Stirring himself from his troubling thoughts, he concentrated on the oral report of the CFO standing at the screen. The man was very competent at his job but had no oratory skills to talk about.
"Cut through the financial drivel and get to the bottom line, Calvin." he interrupted midstream. "I have a meeting in the next ten minutes."
"Yes, sir." He started again, his face flushed from the court order and the snickers going around the table. "Channing's Pharmaceutical is a high-level risk and has been flagged several times by the FDA."
"And in your opinion, it is not worth the trouble."
"Precisely." Calvin adjusted his polka dot bow tie and cleared his throat. "The overhead is too costly; the management team has been dipping into the expenses-"
"What's the bottom line?" Callum asked impatiently.
"It will take a lot to clear through the debris."
"The company has been around for more than a hundred years." Callum pointed out.
"And older than some of the more established companies." A member pointed out.
"That's beside the point," Calvin said stiffly.
"That's precisely the point." Callum picked up the conversation to wind it down.
"The company is old and established, and people trust them. I have written reports from the R&D team, which show a considerable stream of income and profit to be made as soon as the hiccups have been dealt with. As CFO, I need you to get to the bottom line, nothing else."
"But-"
"This meeting is over."' Pushing back his chair, he strode from the room.
“I need updates.”
“Yes, sir.” Barrington jumped up from his chair. Grabbing his iPad and several files, he followed his boss into the sumptuous office with a stunning view of the city and the antique furnishings. “Your four P.M. is waiting in Conference room B, and you have a call from Cairo in ten minutes.”
His eyebrows lifted. “isn’t it a bit late for them?”
“Something urgent came up.”
“Put the call through and ask that refreshments be served to Grady.”
“Right away, sir.”
“I also need a tux for later. I will not have time to swing by my place to get changed for later.”
“Right away, sir.”
*****
She was female enough to admire his incredible style. He had not called her again, and she told herself that it was good that he had not done so. She had also said to herself that she was not going. Being seen at an upscale hotel that belonged to him (She had checked, of course) would mean that she acknowledged that they were in a relationship and it was too soon.
But he had done them an enormous favor - and no! It was much more than that. The man had his hooks in her, and she - sitting on the side of the bed- stared at the hammered gold of the dress. It was a sheath, shapeless until she put it on, and then it absorbed all of her curves.
It came with a bodysuit that would ensure no lines and the body suit was made up of skimpy nude material that was as light as a feather and stunning in design. He had even thought of shoes, the glittering gold with black patent heels. A jacket, the softest cashmere she had ever seen or felt, had her whimpering in appreciation.
The costume jewelry completed the outfit with a silly-looking beaded purse. He had left a message for her. 'The car will pick you up at precisely seven forty-five.'
She thought about calling him and shoving the invitation down his throat. But she wanted to have it out with him face to face. No one handled her, and that was what he was doing.
Biting off a sigh, she headed for the bathroom to take a bath.
